Abstract
Advances in catalytic methodology are limited by the available tools for systematically
optimizing catalyst structure. For molecular transition-metal catalysts, this optimization
process typically involves two principle parameters: the identity of the active metal
center and the environment presented by supporting ligands. In this Account, we highlight
our group’s efforts to exploit nuclearity as a parameter in catalyst design. We recently
reported a binucleating naphthyridine–diimine (NDI) ligand that supports coordinatively
unsaturated nickel–nickel bonds across a broad range of formal oxidation states. Taking
advantage of ligand-centered redox activity, these dinickel complexes function as
robust platforms for catalytic transformations, including hydrosilylation and alkyne
cyclotrimerization reactions. Our results collectively demonstrate that nuclearity
effects provide a complementary means of modulating the activity and selectivity of
transition metal catalysts.
1 Introduction
2 Group 10 Metal–Metal Bonds in Catalysis
3 Dinuclear Nickel Complexes Supported by Redox-Active Ligands
4 Multielectron Redox Transformations at Metal–Metal Bonds
5 Dinuclear Silane Activation and Catalytic Hydrosilylations
6 Selective Alkyne Cyclotrimerization
7 Conclusions
Key words
catalysis - dinuclear transition-metal complexes - metal–metal bonds - hydrosilylation
- cycloaddition